AppleQueso wrote:Isn't this similar to what happened to comic books a while back? That market eventually returned to normal didn't it?
Actually comics became almost worthless. All those 70's and 80's and early 90's comics people thought would be moving for $20 each are now all in 99cents bins.
Especially 90's comics which had the fifteen different variant covers. People are finding out that outside a few short lived niche (and good) series...those shitty comics are still worthless no matter how shiny the cover is.
DonSilvestre wrote:It just seems crazy to me that a game like Snow Bros. (which I happened to find at a thrift store for $2.00 two or three years ago) would jump in value almost 100% in less than a year. That makes me want to panic and snatch up all the close to $100 games like Megaman 7, X3, Dracula X, even Bubble Bobble 2 before they get completely and hopelessly out of what I'm willing to spend.
Except I just remembered I'm married. So much for that plan!
If one were in it solely to make money, your plan makes a whole lot of sense. On the flip side, you may see a number of HD re-releases and compilations that lessens the demand for some of those titles.
The demand for retro games continues to increase, and the supply continues to decrease. I don't see this changing anytime soon. In fact, when physical media is completely killed off, the prices will increase even faster.
Much later down the line, like 50 years from now, when we start dying off, the demand for retro games may decrease along with it. I don't know if future kids will care about old games on physical media. Also by then a lot of them won't work anymore due to broken systems, broken SDTV's, etc.
KDub wrote:
Someday eBay will be useless for game collecting.
It almost is, and it's made worse by the fact that many retro game stores are now using ebay for their pricing.
THIS!
My local store doesn't even place tags on half their games. You walk up to the counter with it and the clerk says "hold on a sec" as he logs onto ebay. Sometimes I think they end up quoting highball buy-it-now prices without even realizing it. I find better prices on online distros like JJGames than I do ebay or most (local) retro game stores.
At one of the most unorganized stores around here that has a bunch of old games the lady always looks up the prices and uses Amazon. So for a rough looking cart only copy of Metal Storm for the NES she wanted 50 bucks. How do places like this stay open?
KDub wrote:
Someday eBay will be useless for game collecting.
It almost is, and it's made worse by the fact that many retro game stores are now using ebay for their pricing.
THIS!
My local store doesn't even place tags on half their games. You walk up to the counter with it and the clerk says "hold on a sec" as he logs onto ebay. Sometimes I think they end up quoting highball buy-it-now prices without even realizing it. I find better prices on online distros like JJGames than I do ebay or most (local) retro game stores.
You wouldn't happen to be from Southeast, PA would you?
My semi-local store only has price tags on items that were previously looked up and then returned to the shelf. Those prices stand (but there are no surprises) but everything else is priced in the back - off of ebay or vgpc i'd imagine.
At one of the most unorganized stores around here that has a bunch of old games the lady always looks up the prices and uses Amazon. So for a rough looking cart only copy of Metal Storm for the NES she wanted 50 bucks. How do places like this stay open?
I just don't understand this - isn't the point of Goodwill, thrift stores, etc, to allow people to find treasure at a lesser price than what you'd find it elsewhere? My favorite thrift store locally (where I found Snow Bros. NES for $2, and Contra: Force for $4 a month or two ago) just realized that retro games were valuable in the last month. Major bummer for me. I don't expect these stores to sell a copy of Panzer Dragoon Saga or EarthBound for dirt cheap, but to charge what stuff is going for on eBay completely defeats the purpose of me stepping foot in the door. Now I have the option of paying $25 for a copy of SNES Mario Kart. No thanks, you've lost a customer.
I live in Maine. I was hoping it was just maybe my local stores that did this, sad to see the practice is becoming common.
@DonSilvestre
Same thing happened with the local Goodwill some time during the last couple of months. No more loose SNES games, now they're behind glass. Used to be able to get a game for a buck apiece, now games like Mario World and Earthworm Jim are priced at $15 each.
I love it how ppl will post an item on amazon and sit on that price and dont care if it sells or not, its almost like they are taunting.
I have been trying to find a copy of EVO Search For Eden for less than $80 for well over a year now, you know with the label intact lol, but this isnt happening.... can anyone hook me up lol?
You guys realize that Goodwill stores are there so that they can raise money for the needy in the community. They certainly aren't there to give you a good deal.
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